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The Economic Cost of Large Constrictor Snakes

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The Economic Cost of Large Constrictor Snakes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The Economic Cost of Large Constrictor Snakes the USDA’s Wildlife Services for nonnative large constrictor snake control activities. n The USDA Wildlife Research Center (Gainesville, Fla., Field Station) spent $15,800 in 2008- 2009 on salaries, travel and supplies to research snake control technologies. n The USGS, in conjunction with the University of Florida, spent more than $1.5 million on research; radio telemetry; and the development, testing and implementation of photo: Lori Oberhofer, National Park Service National Park Lori Oberhofer, photo: nonnative constrictor snake traps. An American alligator and a Burmese python are locked in a struggle to prevail in Ever- glades National Park. This python appears to be losing, but snakes in similar situations have apparently escaped unharmed, and in other situations pythons have eaten alligators. n Miami-Dade County Parks and Recreation Department, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service radio telemetry, satellite, and GPS Natural Areas Management and (Service), in partnership with many technology; diet (stomach content Department of Environmental organizations, has spent more than $6 analysis); thermal biology (implanted Resources Management spent million since 2005 finding and applying data loggers); trap development and $60,875 annually on constrictor solutions to the growing problem of trials; impacts analysis; pilot studies snake issues including removal Burmese pythons and other large for genetics and salinity tolerance; from urban areas. invasive constrictor snakes in Florida. potential use of unmanned aerial vehicles with thermal infrared cameras n The National Park Service has Controlling and eradicating these to detect large constrictor snakes in spent $317,000 annually on various invasive snakes are critically important the field; and training dogs to find programs related to constrictor because they can cause major economic nonnative constrictor snakes. snake issues, such as researching losses and expenditures. One study snake biology for removal purposes reported that nationwide, economic The Service and its partners have spent in Everglades National Park. damages associated with nonnative an average of about $720,000 annually invasive species effects and their on these efforts since 2005. The specific These costs are incurred partly to control amount to about $120 billion breakdown of these expenditures is as prevent the extinction of species per year in the United States (Pimentel follows: already endangered, two of which have 2005). been found as prey in Burmese python n The Service spent $604,656 over stomachs. From 1999 to 2009, Federal Agencies such as the National a three-year period (2007 to 2009) and State agencies spent $1.4 million Park Service, U.S. Department of to design python traps, deploy on Key Largo woodrat recovery and Agriculture (USDA), South Florida and maintain them, and to educate $101.2 million on wood stork recovery. Water Management District the public in the Florida Keys to Puerto Rican parrots, although not (District), U.S. Geological Survey prevent the potential extinction of found as prey yet, have cost Federal (USGS), Florida Fish and Wildlife the endangered Key Largo woodrat and State agencies $17.2 million during Conservation Commission, University and other vulnerable endangered that period. In addition to these three of Florida, county governments and species. examples, many other endangered nongovernmental organizations work species are found in Florida and other with the Service to combat the spread n The District spent $334,000 States and territories that would be of invasive species throughout Florida between 2005 and 2009 and threatened by large constrictor snakes. and the rest of the United States. These anticipates spending $156,600 Reducing or eliminating this threat will actions include capture and removal; more on research, salaries, and support the valiant efforts completed so public education and awareness; spatial vehicles in the next several years. far to recover these species. ecology and movement studies using An additional $300,000 will go to January 2012.
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